From https://www.citibank.com/womenandco/article/6-signs-its-time-to-take-a-personal-day.jsp on 1-15-2013 by Kate Hanley, MsMindBody.com
“Keep your nose to the grindstone.” “Buck up, little camper.” “When you’re going through hell, keep going.”
There are plenty of adages swirling around in the public consciousness that reflect our society’s attitude toward taking a breather. Fact is: It’s just not something we do.
And yet, stepping away from the fray before you descend into full-on burnout is important for many reasons—your mental health, yes, but also your productivity, your company’s bottom line, and even your relationships. “We all get signs that we need time off. Recognizing them and honoring them before you get stuck in a place of irritation or indifference empowers you to keep giving your best,” says Hayya Lee, a business coach for entrepreneurs.
“So many people think they’re more productive if they’re going all the time, but it is a misconception that’s backed up by countless studies. Taking regular breaks makes you more productive, effective, and focused,” says Susan Biali, MD, wellness expert, life coach, and author of Live a Life You Love. It also lowers your stress hormones and blood pressure, rests the mind, and refreshes your mood, she says.
Better yet, if you’re on staff, you may be able to be paid for your mental health day, either by claiming it as personal leave or calling in sick. According to a survey by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a third of companies offer an average of three paid personal days per year, and 81% offer some form of paid sick leave. But if you’re an entrepreneur or work for a very small company, you might have to sacrifice some short-term income to do it. But isn’t your long-term mental, physical, and financial health worth a temporary hit to your wallet?
Here are six ways to tell it’s time to take a personal day:
1. Your sleep is off.
“When your mind is so busy churning over work tasks that you can’t fall asleep, you’re not going to have anything to offer at your desk the next morning,” said career coach and host of Making a Living with Maggie on SiriusXM,Maggie Mistal. Step away from the to-do list so your addled mind has a chance to forget about it.
2. Your body starts revolting.
Your body gives you signals when it’s not getting something it needs—whether that’s exercise, healthy food, or rest. “If you’ve got aches or pains that are new or intensified, it means you are probably pushing yourself way beyond your limits—and not in a good way,” said Lee. Take a break now before the body has to start sending ever-louder signals.
When there’s so much on your plate that you feel you can’t take a break, you’ve lost perspective. That’s when you need a day off most.
3. You start yelling at the kids.
You may not feel safe expressing your frustrations at work, and so it comes out at home. When little transgressions by the kids, your husband, partner, or roommate elicit over-sized responses by you, it’s time to cool out with some you-time away from computer and phone.
4. You feel you’re just too busy to take even a couple hours off.
The busier you are, the more you need a little downtime, Mistal said. “When there’s so much on your plate that you feel you can’t take a break, you’ve lost perspective. That’s when you need a day off most.” When you come back, you’ll be able to tell what’s important and what’s not.
5. Your creativity takes a nose-dive.
“We all have days when we’re super pumped, totally flowing with ideas, and days where we need to do a little bit more work to get the juices flowing. I’m not talking about either of those scenarios,” Lee said. When you get to the point where, try as you might, you can’t seem to think creatively, it’s a sign you need replenishment in the form of a day away from the norm.
6. Your heart is somewhere far, far away.
When you truly have no desire to be at the office—not even one iota—it’s time to take a day to do a little soul searching, and perhaps some researching and job searching. “When your whole being wishes it were somewhere else, it’s time to get quiet and listen to your heart. You’ll hear wisdom that you can then incorporate into a strategic and concrete career plan,” Mistal says.